April 25, 2005
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THIS WEEK — The Hawkeye men and women’s track teams will compete in the 96th running of the Drake Relays, Wednesday thru Saturday, in Des Moines, IA. Events will be held on Jim Duncan Track in Drake Stadium. The school is hoping for its 40th consecutive sellout in the 18,000 seat Drake Stadium, which is the longest streak in U.S. track history. Tickets are available at (515) 261-3647.
2004 DRAKE RELAYS REVIEW — The Hawkeyes crowned two champions at the 95th annual Drake Relays. Hawkeye senior Shellene Williams won the women’s special invitation 400 meters, and junior Ken Kemeny won the University men’s shot put.
Williams became the Hawkeye women’s seventh individual event champion at Drake and Iowa’s first 400-meter champion with her winning time of 52.95. Kemeny was the Hawkeye men’s 26th individual Drake champion and Iowa’s second shot put champion with his winning throw of 59-11 1/4. He beat runner-up Bradford Williams of Georgia by over a foot.
Several other Hawkeyes posted strong finishes at Drake. Sophomore Adam Hamilton placed second in the hammer throw (206-7) and senior Eric Rothwell placed third in the discus (177-2). The women’s 3,200-meter relay of seniors Michelle Lahann and Atalie Barber, junior Aisha Hume and freshman Shannon Stanley placed second (8:48.87). Lahann placed third in the 800 meters (2:06.79), and the distance medley relay of Barber, Williams, Hume and senior Sarah Arens placed third in 11:34.56. Junior Tiff Pedersen placed fourth in the heptathlon with 4,864 points.
BREAKIN’ RECORDS — Two Hawkeyes have set school records during the outdoor season. Sophomore Tiffany Johnson broke the triple jump record of 40-7 1/2 set in 1988 by Becki Borg with her collegiate-best leap of 40-9 1/2 at the Mt. SAC Relays. Sophomore Becca Franklin now holds the hammer throw record with the 181-11 she threw at the Iowa Musco Twilight VII last weekend. Franklin originally broke the record of 161-10 set by Kerri Blackstone in 1999 with her winning mark of 163-1 at the Jim Duncan Invitational two weeks ago.
LAST WEEK — The Hawkeyes hosted Drake, Missouri and Minnesota at a cold, windy Musco Twilight VII Saturday at Francis X. Cretzmeyer Track in Iowa City. Despite the weather, 24 athletes from all four schools qualified for the NCAA Regional meet.
Iowa did especially well in the throwing events, qualifying several athletes. The Hawkeye men went 1-2 in the discus and shot put. Senior Tim Brodersen won the discus (186-0) and Ken Kemeny won the shot put (60-5 1/4). Senior Andy Banse placed second in both events (180-0, 58-2 1/4). Sophomore Becca Franklin smashed her own hammer throw school record set last week with a winning throw of 181-11. Senior Chris Voller won the hammer throw with a personal best 200-0. Senior Kamesha Marshall took third in the women’s shot put with a qualifying throw of 48-0 3/4.
Another highlight of the meet was Meghan Armstrong’s performance in the 3,000 meter run. The freshman set a new Musco Twilight record with a time of 9:49.70.
MEN’S TEAM CAPTAINS CHOSEN — Seniors Ken Kemeny, Juan Coleman and Bill Neumann are tri-captains for the 2005 season. Kemeny is a five-time NCAA qualifier in the shot put, the 2004 Drake Relays champion in that event and has led the team in the shot put each of the last three years. Coleman is a four-time NCAA qualifier in the 1,600-meter relay, and ran the lead leg on the 2001 Big Ten Outdoor Champion 400-meter relay. Neumann is a two-time all-American and Big Ten Champion in the javelin. He won that event in five of six meets in 2003, and is the school record holder.
NEXT COMPETITION — The men and women’s teams will compete at the Big Ten Outdoor Championships, May 13-15, in Columbus, OH. All events will be held at Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium. Tickets are available from the Ohio State University Athletic Ticket Office. All-session tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students. Single session tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students.